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Nightengale: Braves, we're saying you have a chance

It was like ol' times Friday night at Turner Field. The joint was rockin', the fans were choppin', and yes, the Atlanta Braves were finally winning. New life has been airlifted into this National League

Who knows, maybe All-Star catcher Brian McCann, who's eligible for free agency, hasn't played his final game at Turner Field just yet.

"When I think about it,'' McCann said before the game, "it's definitely there. But at the same time, what we're doing here today is way more important than what's going to happen to me after the season.

"We've got to get the series, 1-1, and go to LA, and make this thing a series.''

Mission accomplished, thanks to Braves starter Mike Minor, who pitched a gutsy performance, dodging in and out of trouble like maneuvering through Los Angeles freeway traffic.

Minor pitched only one 1-2-3 inning the entire night, allowing at least two Dodgers to reach base in three of his first six innings. Yet, he always managed to escape damage, and was rescued by his bullpen in the seventh inning.

Luis Avilan inherited a first-and-third situation with one out and leadoff hitter Carl Crawford at the plate. Crawford hit a one-bouncer back to the mound, Avilan calmly threw to shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who fired back to first baseman Freddie Freeman for the double play.

Yes, unlike the Braves in the '90s, they sure have got themselves a bullpen.

The Braves' bullpen led the major leagues with a 2.46 ERA, and Avilan was just filthy against lefties, yielding a meager .144 batting average.

And, of course, they have Craig Kimbrel, who may be the finest closer in the game now that Mariano Rivera is retired. Kimbrel, who saved a major-league leading 50 saves, added another one to his collection Friday with a four-out save, blowing away lefty Carl Crawford with his trademark breaking ball to end the game.

"We're very confident in those guys down there,'' McCann said. "You get late into the game, we like our chances. Hand the ball to Kimbrel, we like our chances.''

And now, going to LA for the weekend, hey, why not like their chances?

We know, at the least, they've got one.

The Braves knew that if they had lost Friday's game, they might as well have packed their surfboards and sunscreen to get started on their early California vacation.

Now, a split will guarantee they won't be wasting that roundtrip ticket back to Atlanta.

The Braves also have the comfort knowing that this may be the last time they face Kershaw or Greinke until a possible Game 5. Kershaw has never pitched on three days' rest in his career, and after throwing 124 pitches in Game 1, appears to be an unlikely candidate for Game 4 should the Dodgers fall in a 2-1 hole.

Then again, the Dodgers have assembled $234 million worth of talent, and hardly seem like a team that's rattled.

"We are so top-heavy with so many talented players,'' Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis said. "The list goes on and on. When we're out there on the field, it shows.''

Game 3: Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward is congratulated by Reed Johnson after hitting a home run in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports

Game 3: Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Carl Crawford falls into the stands after he catches a foul ball in the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports

Game 2 -- Braves 4, Dodgers 3: Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel was pumped after closing out the Game 2 win. The Braves sent the series to Los Angeles tied at a game apiece.
Daniel Shirey, USA TODAY Sports

Game 2 -- Braves 4, Dodgers 3: Hanley Ramirez connects on a two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning. Ramirez's blast cut the Dodgers' deficit to 4-3 before the Braves put an end to the threat.
Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports